You're sitting in the driver's seat, coffee gone cold in the cup holder, staring at a line of brake lights that stretches into the horizon. It sucks. If you're asking is Interstate 90 closed, you’re probably either planning a massive road trip across the northern United States or you're currently stuck behind a de-icer truck in the middle of a blizzard.
I-90 is a beast. It's the longest interstate in the country, running over 3,000 miles from Seattle to Boston. Because it traverses the Cascades, the Rockies, and the brutal plains of South Dakota and New York, "closed" is a status update residents in these areas check as often as the morning news.
The short answer is: it depends on where you are. Right now.
Why the Status of I-90 Changes Every Ten Minutes
Weather doesn't care about your schedule. In the Pacific Northwest, specifically at Snoqualmie Pass, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) shuts down the highway for everything from "spin-outs" to "avalanche control." You might see the gates drop because a semi-truck didn't put on chains, or because the state is literally blasting snow off a mountain with a canon to keep it from burying your Subaru.
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It’s chaotic.
Moving further east, the stretches through Montana and South Dakota are notorious for "ground blizzards." This is when it isn't even snowing, but 50 mph winds whip the existing snow across the pavement until visibility is zero. When that happens, state troopers shut the gates. They don't do it to be annoying; they do it because if you slide off the road in a South Dakota winter, you might not be found until the spring thaw.
The Real-Time Sources You Actually Need
Don't trust a random blog post from three days ago. If you want to know if is Interstate 90 closed at this exact second, you have to go to the source for each specific state. The highway is too long for one single "master" update to be 100% reliable for every mile.
- Washington State: Use the WSDOT real-time map or their Twitter (X) feed. Snoqualmie Pass has its own dedicated alert system because it closes so frequently.
- Montana: Check the MDT (Montana Department of Transportation) traveler information map. They have high-definition cameras at Lookout Pass and Bozeman Pass.
- South Dakota: The SD511 app is your best friend here. If I-90 is closed between Rapid City and Sioux Falls, this app will tell you before you see the "Road Closed" signs.
- The East Coast: In places like New York (the Thruway) and Massachusetts, closures are usually due to massive accidents or heavy lake-effect snow. The NY511 system is the gold standard there.
The "Chain Up" Trap and How to Avoid It
Most people think "closed" means the road is physically blocked by snow. Often, I-90 is "effectively" closed to you if you don't have the right gear. In Washington and Montana, "Chains Required" is a legal mandate. If you don't have them in your trunk, and the signs are flashing, you’re turning around.
Is that a closure? For you, yeah.
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I've seen people try to "wing it" with all-season tires on the Fourth of July Pass in Idaho. It never ends well. The highway patrol will fine you, and the tow truck bill will cost more than a set of premium winter tires.
What Actually Happens During an Avalanche Control Closure?
This is a specific quirk of the I-90 experience in the Cascades. WSDOT will announce a "planned closure." This usually happens in the early morning hours. They close the gates, clear the road of all traffic, and then use explosives to trigger small, controlled avalanches.
It’s loud. It’s necessary.
Usually, these closures last about 30 to 90 minutes. However, if the snow comes down harder than expected, that 1-hour delay can easily turn into a 6-hour nightmare. This is why seasoned I-90 travelers always keep a "go-bag" in the back seat.
Common Misconceptions About I-90 Road Conditions
People assume that because I-90 is a major federal interstate, the government will keep it open at all costs. That is a dangerous myth.
The sheer scale of the maintenance required is staggering. In the "Snow Belt" of Ohio and New York, lake-effect snow can dump three feet of powder in four hours. No amount of salt or plowing can keep up with that. In these cases, the "closure" is for the safety of the plow drivers as much as the motorists.
Another thing? Google Maps is sometimes slow.
I’ve been on I-90 heading toward Buffalo when Google said the road was clear, only to hit a wall of white and a state trooper blocking the ramp two miles later. Always cross-reference your GPS with the official state DOT (Department of Transportation) website. They are the ones actually flipping the switches on the "Road Closed" signs.
How to Prepare Before You Hit the On-Ramp
If the forecast looks even slightly questionable, you need a plan. Don't be the person shivering in a light jacket because you thought the car heater would never fail.
- Check the "Webcams" first. Every state DOT has them. Look at the road surface, not just the sky. If you see black ice or "packed snow and ice" warnings, slow down.
- The "Full Tank" Rule. Never let your gas tank drop below half when crossing I-90 in the winter. If the road closes and you’re stuck in a 5-mile backup, that gas is your lifeline for heat.
- Download Offline Maps. Cell service is surprisingly spotty in the mountain passes of Idaho and the vast stretches of Wyoming and South Dakota. If the road closes and you need to find a hotel, you won't be able to search for one without a signal.
- Know Your Alternatives. Sometimes, taking a detour isn't an option. If I-90 is closed at Snoqualmie, your only other real options are Highway 2 (Stevens Pass) or Highway 12 (White Pass). But guess what? If 90 is closed, those are usually in even worse shape.
Dealing With "Closure Fatigue"
It gets frustrating. You’re trying to get home for the holidays, or you’re a trucker on a tight deadline, and the gate is down. Honestly, the best thing you can do is find the nearest town with a decent diner and wait it out.
Trying to bypass a closure by using "back roads" or forest service roads is how people end up as the subject of a search-and-rescue documentary. Those roads aren't plowed. Your GPS might say it's a "shorter route," but it doesn't know there is four feet of unplowed snow on that dirt track.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
- Download the "511" app for every state you will be driving through.
- Verify your tire tread. If it's below 4/32 of an inch, you are asking for trouble on I-90.
- Pack a "Cold Box": Sleeping bag, extra gloves, bottled water, and high-calorie snacks.
- Check the WSDOT or local DOT Twitter feeds—they are usually faster at posting "Gate Down" alerts than the official websites are at updating their maps.
If the gates are closed, they are closed for a reason. Grab a coffee, find a hotel, and try again in the morning. The mountain always wins.